Published for The Corner at nationalreview.com, December 22nd, 2010:

Is it just me, or does the fact that our DNI didn’t know about a major terrorism-ring bust in the U.K. — that happened two days ago, by the way — really inspire dread about who’s minding the store during the holidays? Is it so commonplace in the U.K. for a dozen suspected terrorists to be arrested that no one thought to tell the very person entrusted with ensuring all of our intelligence offices are coordinated and communicating to make sure we’re connecting all the dots to prevent an attack?

The fact that he hadn’t been briefed is one thing — that he hadn’t even seen it in the news is another. You can be sure that had this happened while President Bush was in office someone on the Hill would be calling for heads to roll — but I suppose they’re so ready to get out of town that people are just putting this behind them. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. America deserves some answers and reassurances on this.

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Published for FoxNews.com, December 10th, 2010

Published for FoxNews.com, November 3rd, 2010:

America’s relationship with President Obama is strained, to say the least. In the midterm elections on Tuesday, America told him that it’s time to take a break and see other people. Call it a trial separation.

Across the country, in nearly every demographic, nerves are frayed and tempers have flared. The passion from the first days of dating has cooled and some people can’t remember what they saw in him in the first place. And so they’ve decided to send a message – loudly.

There’s not even a courtesy thrown his way to soften the blow, as in “It’s not you, it’s me…” because it is, actually, about him – his policies, approach, tone and agenda.

Every midterm election is about the president. That was true of President Bush when he won seats in the 2002 midterms, and when he lost seats — and his majority — in 2006.

The sooner President Obama and his team recognize that, the better the chance is of reconciliation. If not, we could be headed for a permanent break-up.

So, as I asked here in Fox News Opinion in September, can this relationship be saved?

In a country where slightly more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, it’s unlikely. But if there’s any hope of getting back together, here are 3 suggestions on what President Obama can do to repair the damage:

1. Lead

The election rhetoric in 2010 has been heated, but no more so than other elections. What has been different this time is the very personal attacks the president himself has leveled at others, which is one of the reasons this election is assuredly all about him – he helped make it so.

Contrary to what some Democrats are spinning, the onus for cooperation is not on the Republicans – that responsibility rests with the commander-in-chief.

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Published for FoxNews.com, October 27th, 2010:

Finally, we’re in the last week of the midterm election cycle. While the GOP is up by almost any measure, there’s no time for premature dances in the end zone. As candidates make their closing arguments, they have to make sure they don’t do anything to jeopardize their wins by saying something stupid, over-reacting to an attack, or running out of airspeed and altitude in the final stretch.

Here are five ways Republican candidates can keep from blowing it in the last week of the campaign:

1. Don’t give any big interviews to the mainstream media — this can only lead to a self-inflicted wound.

I typically recommend talking early and often to the press — if you’re not talking to them, someone else is.

But in these final days, a big profile interview by a journalist is just too risky. The editors didn’t assign it to the reporter in order to help you – believe me. And don’t fall for the line that it’ll be really positive for you and a great way to get your message out in the last days of the election. There are a lot of ways to communicate now — utilize those and tell the paper or the television reporters you’ll be happy to talk to them in the days following your victory party.

2. “Dig deep” was Sarah Palin’s advice to Republican voters the other day — and she’s right. Now’s the time when a candidate’s energy has to be redoubled. Everyone’s tired at this point, but what’s all this work been for if you decide there’s nothing more you can do?

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Published for The Corner at nationalreview.com, October 16th, 2010:

I used to enjoy reading Maureen Dowd. I think she has a way with words and at times she even promotes thinking outside of conventional wisdom. Unfortunately, those columns are few and far between. Reading her column in the Sunday New York Times irritated me. I guess that’s her specialty — irritation.

I remember once after I’d left the White House I mentioned one of her columns to a friend and the friend said, “You know, you don’t have to read that stuff any more . . . you graduated.” But I’m a news junkie; I can’t help myself. Kind of like some women and chocolate. Whoops! Sorry — did I say something stereotypical and uncalled for?

That’s exactly what her column about mean Republican and conservative women is — stereotypical and uncalled for. She lists the usual suspects — as in, those expected to win. Yet reading her piece I keep thinking, has she met any of those women? Does she still feel that way after walking away? I’m fortunate to meet a lot of women from both sides of the aisle — and with few exceptions I like them all. I certainly don’t think any of them are mean. Can women have moments they aren’t proud of? Sure. But to write all conservative and Republican women off as mean is . . . mean.

One night her name came up at a dinner attended by members of both parties. Someone told a story about how at a past dinner she’d been a guest and had been droning on and on in a catty way and that one of the men at the table wrote on a cocktail napkin and passed it to another. It said, “What happened to her?” Sigh. Who the heck knows?

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Published for The Corner at nationalreview.com, September 23rd, 2010:

The Pledge released by House Republicans gives GOP candidates and their supporters something tangible with which to push back against the Democrats’ favorite attack line, that Republicans are the “party of no.” While not exhaustive on details, the pledge can unite the party around common themes that make sense to just about everyone. Even President Clinton thinks it was a good idea for the GOP to release the pledge and that the Democrats could use something similar as the resounding promises of hope and change fade. It’s probably too late in this election cycle for the Democrats to be able to unite around a similar document; if you can’t even run an ad touting your single best legislative accomplishment, there’s probably not a lot you can agree on.

The pledge also comes at the right time — it’s about a week after the administration spent a week sputtering about the economy, and just as people are going back to work and school and focused on the elections.

Hear, hear — and congratulations to House Republicans.

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Published for Fox Forum at foxnews.com, September 20th, 2010:

Let’s take a break for a day or two from over-analyzing the mid-term elections and focus on something that brings us together – helping people living in extreme poverty find effective ways to improve their lives.

America has long had a big heart and acted on its responsibility to others, and the global development community has been targeting its work to the people making the biggest difference in their communities around the world: women and girls. This week in New York City, I have the opportunity to support two important initiatives that focus on women and children’s health and eliminating the transmission of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

Leading one of the efforts is the White Ribbon

Alliance, the WIE Symposium, led by Sarah Brown, along with Donna Karan and Arianna Huffington. The gathering will bring together female leaders and speakers from around the world to discuss the important issues facing women today.

In particular, the conference will zero in on women’s global empowerment and the strength that comes from women helping women, for more visit wienetwork.org. This includes the importance of reducing deaths during childbirth and then ensuring that mothers have the information and resources they need to raise healthy babies. The panel I’ll moderate, called “Women in Advocacy,” will feature two very well respected public servants, Secretary Ann Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director from 2005 – 2010 and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE.

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